Defense Posture Project

Rapid advancements in military technology are challenging existing concepts of deterrence. The Defense Posture Project tracks disruptions to strategic stability in order to provide both a reliable source of public information as well as innovative concepts for maintaining deterrence over the coming decades. Through assessments of military force structure and posture, structured wargaming analysis, and ongoing education of policy and public audiences, the DPP lays the groundwork for a US defense posture that is capable and credible, sufficiently restrained to maintain strategic stability, and fiscally sustainable.

The DPP team closely follows changes to nuclear strategy and force structure in the major nuclear weapons states and is a leading source of analysis and commentary on defense and diplomatic events in North Korea. FAS experts have written widely on the need to develop a sustainable strategy to manage a nuclear-armed North Korea and have provided detailed analysis on its advancing missile capabilities.

The project is directed by Adam Mount, Ph.D., who is studying the role of advanced conventional forces in contributing to or degrading deterrence between nuclear armed states. He is working to develop new operational concepts for effective conventional deterrence, enhancing US credibility and limiting escalation risk. Adjunct Senior Fellow Ankit Panda examines nuclear and conventional force developments in Asia, especially missile and missile defense technologies. Abigail Stowe-Thurston studies US-Russia strategic stability and provides research support to the team.